In NANTUCKET, Mass., the federal government has instructed Vineyard Wind, an offshore wind developer near Nantucket Island, to halt operations following the discovery of damaged turbine blade parts on the beaches. Operations have been suspended to assess the impact of the “blade failure” on other turbine blades and the lease area’s power production. Additionally, the installation of new wind turbine generators has been put on hold.
After the collection of six truckloads of debris, Nantucket officials have reopened all South Shore beaches on the island. Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller assured the public of ongoing cleanup efforts and encouraged reporting any debris sightings to the company or town officials.
However, the company expressed concern about the damaged blade’s integrity, known as the GE Vernova blade, potentially detaching soon. More debris was found in the water, prompting further investigation and collaboration with authorities to respond to the situation.
Vineyard Wind is collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard to maintain a safety zone around the affected offshore turbine and has informed relevant agencies about the developments. Despite the incident, ISO New England stated that New England’s power system remains reliable and unaffected.
The joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Vineyard Wind, confirmed that no personnel were near the turbine during the damage and that GE will investigate the root cause of the incident. The company continues to prioritize safety and environmental protection while coordinating with various partners.
The development’s wind turbines have been contributing to the grid since winter, and efforts are underway to collect debris in the coming days.
